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Topic: Serino hired Baez to represent him (Read 11192 times)

Just when you thought this case could not get more bizarre and surreal, Serino hires Baez. It is pretty odd for a lead investigator to hire a lawyer, let alone such a controversial and notorious lawyer like Baez.

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“He wants his own counsel — he’s intimidated,” said Baez spokesman Michael Wright. “It may not be a friendly deposition.”

Intimidated by the defense, prosecution or both?

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An FBI report released this summer showed Serino told agents that he was pressured by African-American officers to file charges.

Is he intimidated by fellow members of SPD as well?

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Days after the interviews were made public, Serino, a 15-year department veteran, was transferred to patrol duty on the overnight shift.

I think Serino would be 'intimidated' by both the Defense and the Prosecution. The Prosecution: the FBI statement that he felt pressured by other African American officers to pursue an arrest, and by the Defense: other investigators indicating there was no cause for arrest.

I also wonder if this has anything to do with signs from O'Mara that he is not focused just on exonerating Zimmerman, but also holding others accountable for any role in a wrongful prosecution.

Baez tried a high-profile case with an unpopular client, and he won. Seems like a good choice to me.

Is he 'notorious' for some other reason?

Always the contrarian. What other reason does he need? Of course the lawyer for one of the most notorious defendants in one of the most notorious cases of the decade, is notorious. Whether deserved or not, it's not my judgement, it is firmly established in popular culture. It was one of the most discussed trials of the social media age and spawned many dedicated forums and blogs, not unlike this case. O'Mara has already achieved a level of notoriety on several Trayvon Martin fan sites and blogs.

And as you recall, he was just mentioned in the most recent hearing and his response to the court is now part of the record. He acted properly in correcting BdlR's misstatements. However, many of the Zimmerman haters sharply criticized him for it, because of his notoriety and also because he now made a fool of their beloved prosecutor.

Publicist Michael Wright said Monday Jose Baez is investigating a possible civil lawsuit over responsibility for the shootings, including security measures at the theater where the shootings occurred. Baez is representing Shirley Wygal, mother of Rebecca Wingo, who died in the shootings.

Baez has also represented at least one LEO, Carlos Alves. It was a criminal matter, but in Serino's place I might consider that experience a plus.

Bill Lee, the police chief who lost his job following the investigation, told the Sentinel police never believed they had enough evidence to charge Zimmerman, but had Serino fill out the probable cause affidavit because without the document, the State Attorney's Office would not take over the investigation.

This is the first time I have read that Serino's Capias was written at Lee's instigation.

Bill Lee, the police chief who lost his job following the investigation, told the Sentinel police never believed they had enough evidence to charge Zimmerman, but had Serino fill out the probable cause affidavit because without the document, the State Attorney's Office would not take over the investigation.

This is the first time I have read that Serino's Capias was written at Lee's instigation.

I've seen the claim before, but this is the first time I've seen it sourced directly to Lee.